I shrieked with surprise and delight when I saw her as she came walking towards us – Liza, my pal in school! We were buddies in our last year.“So this is why you hadn’t been in touch all these years!” I giggled.She laughed heartily showing her familiar dimples. “We moved to San Francisco after the wedding. I didn’t know where to write you then because you were nowhere to be found, silly!”

I grimaced “Yeah, I got busy with a job in the big city.. and lots of things. Ugh! Tell you all about it.”

We then moved to a coffee shop nearby and continued with our endless chatter and updates. Time flew until Martin reluctantly and halfheartedly broke off the chat and reminded Liza that they had yet to shop for a birthday gift for his mom. So we parted ways but agreed to meet for dinner at their place the following week.

Looking at them as they walked to the parking lot, I felt a sudden twinge of sadness. They have remained the same, true; and yet have changed too in some. I remembered something I have read before —

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension; and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm; childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.”

That quote brought me to this new understanding. Truly, we change unevenly, partially, in layers. We may be brilliant to one and childish to another person all in the same breath. We may be the cherished pumpkin of the past and yet also the modern career person of the present. A friend may tell me that I have changed in my perceptions about love and money. While another friend would tell me that I am still the homespun girl he always had known me to be. And all true for I have indeed changed from some old held viewpoints of long ago but have too retained and treasured the same homespun values my mother had taught me in my growing up years. On that thought, I realized that we don’t really leave the past behind even if change moves us along in time. We take it with us to the present and on to the future. This is what people see in us mixed and mingled as change does its work in bits, portions, areas, and layers of ourselves.

So as I stood there watching Martin and Liza pull away in their Chevy, I smiled to myself and bid goodbye to the sadness felt earlier. Nothing has been lost after all. More mature and changed in some ways as they appear to be now, still Martin and Liza carry with them the traces of good old friendships of long ago. We stand connected despite change. Amazing and beautiful, isn’t it?

Yup amazing and beautiful indeed:) friendship fills us up with life, when we meet our friends its like life is there to have a rejuvinating session with us...memories thrive on our emotions and give us a shine so wonderful that anyone can look at us and see...went to see a friend ;) Have loads and loads of fun whenever you plan to meet them next, may the fun filled environment fill you up with loads of happiness, peace and contentment!

First of all, you owe me no apology. You do no wrong if you simply heed the call of life as it takes you into other directions or concerns. Life, as a hard taskmaster, does that to us mortals and we can do no less but obey and make the most of what is heaped on our laps.

Trying times befall everyone, so you're not alone. I have my share here at my end too. You'd think that the new year erases everything in the past giving us a clean slate to start the year with.. but it's not the case. Unresolved issues and life lessons unlearned will be carried over to the new year and the next and the next... until we give them the right solutions or ... paid heed to those lessons we should be learning.

But we are made of sturdier stuff, more than we give ourselves credit for. Plus hope and faith springs eternal, remember that line? :-)

Keep the faith and nurture that hope in the heart.. because you will overcome your trying times. With God by your side, how can you ever lose?! :-)

Thank you for taking time to drop by. Missed you, dear friend. Blessings to you and your loved ones.

Oh yes indeed --- ".. :) friendship fills us up with life, when we meet our friends its like life is there to have a rejuvinating session with us..." -- And I do look forward to my next meeting with the two. Lots to catch up on Lols!

Thanks for this lovely visit. Always a pleasure to see you. Wishing blessings to you, your dear family, and friends. :-)

Though the post dealt with an unexpected meeting with a friend along with finding a classmate and buddy as is wife.But luckily for readers it carried a wonderful message that as we grow up we do not change uniformly inall our values,perceptions and even our flaws.For many the basic qualities remain unchangeddespite th change in circumstances.But we also find abrupt and enduring changes in personalities, notably in saintly personages wih an ordinay background transformed to nobler spirits.Thanks Ellen

Yes, I think I have changed in many ways and remained the same in many others. You are right the real changes are below the surface as they are slow and unobtrusive so they go unnoticed. It's nice to meet old friends sometimes.

:-) Here's where I warmly welcome you and where you leave your footprints behind with fond memories attached to it of wonderful chats and friendships. Thank you for your comments. Or send your comments to ellen622@gmail.com. Will be seeing you in your blog too. God bless you!

From One Heart To Another

Hi! Welcome to my world.

The blog gives full expression to --- life, experiences, impressions, observations, moments, events, places, and people. There's so much to learn, see, and discover. I'm taking this journey and sharing it with you.
( P.S. Except for family pictures and those taken by my daughters, so too the paintings and sketches ... most of the pictures here come from other sources on the internet. If you happen to find yours here and want to remove it, just say so and I will graciously do it for you. Thank you. )

WHAT THE BLOG IS ABOUT

CREATE A PATCHWORK OF MEMORIES WITH THREADS THAT TIE HEARTS TOGETHER

This is a journey. One will often find oneself at one end or the other of that broad spectrum. It is a rich life, though definitely flawed and imperfect but rich. Yet it is what goes on inside a person - how he responds to life - that truly lends to its richness. This journey continues.==============

A Hobby Can Lead To Self-Discovery

This may not be your typical fashion sketch .. but am having fun with it. I guess that's what really matters. :-)

Designing is a hobby enjoyed with pleasure :-)

Ah!! This is how I rest my mind from the day's 'hustle n bustle' :-)

A relaxing day just sketching. :-)

LIFE IS SOMETHING LIKE THIS...

A multi-colored dress crowding each other vieing for your attention. It's okay just as long as you wear the dress and not having the dress wear you. So much like life, take it where you want it to go.

Landscape painted in watercolor

The greatest adventure is doing what you thought you couldn't do.

Adventure in watercolor painting

How will you know if you don't try.

ODE TO A TREE

"A tree that looks at God all day and lifts its leafy arms to pray.."

Trees by the Meadows

Nature is always a lovely subject for a sketch. I thought of taking my sketch pad on my morning walks...but that wouldn't be exercise, would it? :-)

This is where I want to be -- and why my sketches have this theme. :-)

Nature restores our inner peace and balance. :-)

BOULDER PATH

All the roads we travel in life are strewn with stones, rocks, and boulders of challenges. But strewn our way by a wise God, they serve a definite purpose -- to help us grow in strength, courage, knowledge, hope, and faith.

THE JAGGED ROAD OF LIFE

This poster I love a lot. Rugged path alongside beauty - is what life is all about. There's even more beauty around you if you look hard enough. And don't forget the beauty in your soul.

TREE OF LIFE

Colorful, magical - a brilliant mix of experiences, moods, memories. Your tree will either flourish or wither away, that is all up to you.

Thank you, Snapping Panda :-)

Sashin sure knows how to make people smile. She gave me my biggest smile today! :-)

Thank you to 'On Being Pramoda'

We know that a blog comes alive with visits and warm messages from wonderful bloggers. We have a wonderful blog world.

Thanks, Pramoda! :-)

This is what the blog world is all about. Friends!!

MIKO the king cat

king of his turf...our house. :-) Loves sleeping on beds and mattresses.

LUCKY - yes we are for having her

she's a lady. She loves sitting on our laps and belly rubs. A dog is a man's best friend true. I look into Lucky's eyes and see how much she loves me.. even if at times am unlovable.

MAXIE - affectionate clown

she's the playful nimble one. Loves chasing after water bubbles in the kiddie pool.

BUDDY - poker-faced macho breed

he's the cool MACHO. But a softie when it comes to petting. He'll nudge very close for more.